Machine



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' P. DILLON.

V DRYING MACHINE. No. 576,757. Patented Feb. 9, 1897.

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P.. DILLON.

DRYING MACHINE.

N0 576,757.- Patented Feb 9, 1897.

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DRYING MACHINE. No. 576,7-57. Pat nted'Feb, 9, 1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT GFFIQE.

PETER DILLON, OF LAWRENCE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB OF' ONE-HALF v TO HENRY 0. KING, OF SAME PLACE.

DRYING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 576,757, dated. February 9, 1897.

I Application filed May 29,1896. SerialNo. 593,562. (No modehl To all whom it may concern: operative position to -render the operation Be it known that I, PETER DILLON, of Lawthereof understood. Fig. 2 is an enlarged derence, county of Essex, State of Massachu- 'tail, inside elevation, of one form of my imsetts, have invented an Improvement in Dryproved attachment. Fig. 3 is a correspond- 55 ing-WIachines, of which the following descriping detail in end elevation. Fig. 4is a broken tion, in connection with the accompanying horizontal section taken on the dotted lineat drawings, is aspecification, like letters on the of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail, in drawings representing like parts. side elevation of another form of my inven- My invention relates to improvements in tion. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section thereof 60 10 the drying-machine patented to me March 10, similar to that shown in Fig. 4 and taken on 1891, No. 448,181, the object of my present the line 6, Fig. 5. invention being to improve and simplify the The frame A, the steam-heated drying-cylmechanism and operation of my patented deinders B, the guide-rolls C C, the steam-convice. ducting pipes D, and the valve mechanism E 6 In my patented drying-machine above menare of any usual or desired construction, the tioned the web of paper, as it passes around paperpassingfrom left to right, Fig. 1, around the drying-cylinders and over the guide-rolls, one heating-cylinder and over the two interautomatically regulates the supply of steam mediate guide-rolls O C, and thence around by thecontraction and expansion of the paper, the second drying-cylinder and onto the other 2o accordingly as it is dried to a greater or less machinery for further treatment.

degree. The mechanism which thus controls M y invention has to do with the mechanism the steam-supply moves the cut-off valve with shown in connection with the guide-roll C. an initial movement, due to the stretching or Referring particularly to Fig. 2, a desigshrinking of the paper, and then continues nates a bracket preferably provided with'suit- 25 the movement of the cut-off valve by reason able means, as the bolt-holes a, for securing of the rotation of the adjacent guide-roll. the same in the desired location on any dry- It is one object of my present invention to ing-machine. At its upper end the bracket. make the operation of the cut-off valve posia receives a bearing 1), on which is mounted tive and definite, depending solely upon the the supporting-arm c on which the guide-roll 0, web of paper or other material which is be- Gis journaled, thejournal-bearings 0 thereof ing dried and not depending on the rotation being preferablylongitudinally adjustable on of the guide-roll. In connection with the the arm 0, as by means of the T-recesses c mechanismforattainingthispositive anddefiherein shown. This supporting-arm 0 may nite movement mentioned I provide means be either journaled directly on the bearing 1), 8

3 5 whereby the operator may adjust with the as shown in Fig. 6, or it may be journaled on utmost nicety the degree of movement transthe hub d, as shown in Fig. at. Extending mitted to the cut-off valve. In order to make downwardly is the tension-lever e, notched at this capability of adjustment very delicate, its outer edge to receive the eye f of the free I have preferably made all the parts relaend of the tension device. This lever e is 9'0 40 t-ively adjust-able, including a compound adshown as preferably secured in rigid adjustjustment for the tension device, and this, ment on the hub d, or it may be formed intaken in connection with the other adjusttegrally with the arm a, as. shown in Fig. (5. ments,renders the device extremely sensitive. In the former instance the arm 0, being Further advantages of my invention will mounted to turn loosely on the hub cl, is ca- 5 5 appear in the course of the following-detailed pable of adjustment relatively to tension-ledescription which, taken in connection with ver 6 by means of the set-screw 0 the accompanying drawings, fully sets forth The tension device consists, preferably, of my invention. one or more chambers f, two being shown in In the drawings, Figure 1, in side elevation, the present instance, to receive suitable coiled 5o showsasufficient portion of a drying-machine springs f which are held therein at one end with my improvements attached thereto in by the closed end of the chambers and at the other end by the adjustable thumb-nuts f screwed onto the outer ends of the spindles j carried by a cross-head f of the outer free end of the tension device, a central guidespindle f being also preferably provided in order to insure precision of movement of the tension device. The chambers f are pivotally mounted at f on the lower end of an arm f Fig. 2, or on the fixed bracket a, Fig. 5.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4: it will be seen that the upper end of the arm f has a boss f centrally mounted on the bearing 1), the latter being provided, preferably, with a shoulder 1), bearing against the end of the boss f and holding the arm f in rigid contact with the bracket (1 by means of the nut [1 This arrangement renders the support of the various moving parts perfectly-rigid and yet leaves the parts beyond the shoulder 1) free to turn easily on the bearing 1).

I11 order that all the parts may be adjusted relatively to the bracket a, I have provided the boss f with an annular T-recess f to re ceive the heads of the bolts f, so that by loosening the boltsf and also slightly loosening the nut 11 all the parts may be turned into the desired position relatively to the bracket a. This arrangement permits the placing of the bracket in any position found most convenient on any of the usual dryingmachines, the remaining parts of the mechanism then being adjusted, as required, to correspond with the necessary position of the bracket. At its outer end the bearing-shaft b carries a valve-operatin g lever 9 free to turn thereon. This lever g is connected to move in unison with the arm 0, carrying the guideroll C.

In the present instance of my invention the connection therewith is by means of a wormsector g and a worm the latter being mounted in the hanger cl, extending from the hub d, Fig. 3, or formed integrally with the arm 0, Fig. 6, and being provided with suitable operating means, (herein shown as the handwheel 2r.) The worm-sector g may be formed in one piece with the leverg in the form of a bell-crank, as shown in Fig. 2, or it may be independent thereof, as shown in Fig. 6, the lever g in the latter case being adjustably clamped thereon by suitable means, as by the bolt 9 At its free end the lever g carries the valve-operating rod 71, the latter being connected therewith by means of the link h, pivoted at 7L2 and its, and havinga projection [t to receive the latch g in locking engagement therewith, the latter being pivotally mounted at g on the valve-operating lever g andmormally held in lockin g engagement, as shown in Fig. 2, by means of the spring 9, bearing against the extended end q thereof. The latch g normally holds rod h under the control of the mechanism above described, but by raising the catch end thereof the rod may be disengaged and the valve entirely closed.

Referring to Fig. 5, it will be seen that I have made provision for taking up the wear of the worm-gear 9 in order that the adjustment by means thereof may be absolutely accurate, this provision being shown as a coiled springs, hearing at one end against the handwheel 10 and at its other end against the outer end of the adjacent bearing, thereby tending always to maintain the worm tightly against said bearing and also holding the worm against accidental rotation.

Referring to Figs. 3 and at, it will be noticed that the hub d is provided with a spur d extending therefrom into a slot in. the boss f, thereby limiting the relative swinging movement of the arm 6. This provision is shown in Fig. 5 as made by opposite lugs a formed on the arm (L to limit the movement of the stub arm or spur c projecting from the bearing of the arm 0.

In operation as the paper passes around the drying-cylinders B more or less moisture is dried out of the web of paper,aceordingto the temperature of the cylinders, due to the amount of steam admitted thereto. Accordingly the paper stretches or contracts to a corresponding degree as it passes over the fixed intermediate guide-r0110 and the swinging guide-roll O, the latter maintaining an even tension on the paper or other material being dried, according to the degree of tension maintained in the springs f It will be evident, therefore, that as the paper contracts the guide-roll C and its supporting-arm 0 will swing correspondingly toward the left, Fig. 1, and will instantly transmit precisely the same movement through the valve-controllin g arm g to the valve mechanism E, thereby cutting down the amount of steam admitted to the drying-cylinders. As the latter become cooler and the paper therefore loses tendency to shrink and becomes more yielding to the springs of the regulating device the latter will recover its normal position, the guideroll C swinging back toward the right and transmitting the same definite movement through the arm 0 and lever g to the valvecontrolling rod h and correspondingly admitting more steam.

If it is found that the apparatus does not work evenly, the same can be adjusted with absolute accuracy and to the most perfect degree of nicety by changing the relative positions of the different parts to accommodate the apparatus to different materials being dried, or, if it be paper, to different qualities of paper and to different kinds of drying-machines, conditions of the atmosphere, IKFC- This adjustment can usually be accomplished to the degree required simply by turning the hand-wheel w and rocking the lever g slightly up or down relatively to the arm 0 and tension-lever e.

The operation of the mechanism may be further regulated, however, by loosening the set'screw c and changing the relative direction of the arm 0 and lever e, or in the case of the device illustrated in Fig. 6 the relative angle of the worm-sector g and the lever g maybe varied, as desired, by loosening the bolt The tension is under absolute control by means of the nuts f bearing against the tension-springs, and also by reason of the capability of shifting the free end f of the tension device toward or from the fulcrum-pivot of the lever e. I 4

If it is desired to set the machine so that it will be impossible for the steam-valve to be opened or closed beyond a certain fixed limit, it may be accomplished by shifting the arm f slightly relatively to the bracket a, so as to change the position of the spur d relatively to the stops formed by the respective walls of the slot f This same object may be attained in the form illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 by changing the position of the worm-sector g relatively to the spur c. For some purposes also it is desirable to varythe amplitude of swing of the guide-roll o in order to permit a greater or less degree of stretching of the fabric being dried, and provision for this is made by moving the bearings c longitudinally of the arm 0, as shown in Fig. 2.

While I have herein shown and described the preferred formsof myinvention, yet I do not limit myself to the present embodiment thereof, inasmuch as many changes may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. In a drying-machine or the like, a swinging arm, a guide-roll journaled thereon, a swinging valve-controlling lever adapted to control by its movement the steam-supply of the machine, and means to cause said arm and said lever to swing together in unison, whereby the lever receives positive and definite movement corresponding to the movements of the arm and roll, and means for changing, at will, the angle of said arm and lever relatively the one to the other, substantially as described.

2. In a drying-machine or the like, a swinging arm, a guide-roll journaled thereon, a swinging valve-controlling lever adapted to control by its movement the steam-supply of the machine, means to cause said arm and said lever to swing together in unison, whereby the lever receives positive and definite movement corresponding to the movements of the arm and roll, and hand-operated means for adjusting the position of the said lever relatively to the said arm, for varying the regular normal swing thereof, substantially as described.

3. In a drying-machine or the like, a supporting-bracket, a swinging arm pivotally mounted thereon, a guide-roll journaled on said arm, a valve-controlling lever also pivotally mounted on said bracket and constituting with said arm substantially a bellcrank, and adapted to control the steam-supver for changing the angular relation of the two at will, substantially as described.

5. In a drying-machine or the like, a supporting-bracket, a swinging arm pivotally mounted thereon, a guide-roll carried by the arm, a tension-lever mounted independently of said arm and adjustable relatively thereto on said bracket, means to rigidly connect the arm and tension-lever together, a tension device connected to the tension-lever, and a valve-controlling lever also mounted on said bracket and constituting with said arm substantially a bell-crank, and adapted to control the steam-supply of the machine, substantially as described.

6. In a drying-machine or the like, a supporting-bracket, a swinging arm pivotally mounted thereon, a guide-roll carried by the arm, a tension-lever mounted on the bracket, a tension device connected at one end to the tension-lever, an arm adjustably secured to the bracket and supporting the other end of the tension device, a valve-controlling lever mounted on the bracket and constituting with said swinging arm substantially a bell-crank and adapted to control the steam-supply of the machine, and means to adjust on said bracket all of said other mentioned parts, substantially as described.

7. In a drying-machine or the like, a supporting-bracket, a swinging arm pivot-ally mounted thereon, a guide-roll carried by the arm, a tension-lever mounted on the bracket, a tension device connected at one end to the tension-lever, a valve-controlling lever pivotally mounted on the bracket and adapted to control the steam-supply of the machine, and an adjusting device, one member of which is arranged to be rigidly connected to said arm and the other member of which is arranged to be rigidly connected to said valvecontrolling lever, said two members being relatively movable by means of a hand-wheel and gear mounted on one member and coo erating parts on the other member, substantially as described.

8. In a drying-machine or the like, a supporting-bracket, a swinging arm pivotally mounted thereon, a guide-roll carried by the arm, a tension-lever mounted on the bracket, a tension device connected at one end to the tension-lever, a valve-controlling lever pivotally mounted on the bracket and adapted to control the steam-supply of the machine, of said members relatively to their said rigid and an adjusting device, one member of connections, substantially as described. which is arranged to be rigidly connected to In testimony whereof I have signed my said arm and the other member of which is name to this specification in the presence of arranged to be rigidly connected to said valvetwo subscribing witnesses.

controlling lever, said two members being PFTER DHTON relatively movable by means of a hand-wheel J J J and gear mounted on one member and coop- Vitnesses:

crating parts 011 the other member, and HENRY 0. KING,

IO means to shift the position of either or both GEO. II. MAXWELL. 

